Plug and socket connecter and the like



July 24, 1928.

H. ROTTENBURG PLUG AND SOCKET CONNEG'I'ER AND THE LIKE Filed Feb. 18,1926 Patented July 24, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PLUG AND SOCKET CONNECTED. AND THE LIKE.

Application filed February 18. 1926, Serial No. 89,172, and in GreatBritain larch 9, 1925.

This invention relates to plug and socket connecters and the like and ithas for object improvements by which certain advantages shall beobtained.

According to the present invention, a socket member of a plug and socketconnecter has a contact of bi-partite construction. of which one part isattached to the socket and constitutes a clip to hold in position theother part with which the plug makes contact.

- Conveniently, the socket member comprises the combination with atubular member having attached thereto, a spring member, for example ofU-shape, of a second member which is engaged by and held in place by thespring member, and which is engaged by the plug member. The secondmember may be of U-shape or substantially U-shape, and the spring memberof U-shape has cuts or depressions in its legs which engage a depressionor depressions at the base of the U in the second member.

The second member may have means for the attachment of an electricconductor, such as a tag cut and bent out from the body of the member.or a terminal secured with a screw and washer.

Forms of the invention will now be described with reference to theaccompanying drawings. wherein Fig. 1 shows the contact of a socketmember of a plug and socket connecter in perspective and with the twoparts separated:

Fig. 2 shows a socket member mounted on a panel with a plug member 1nposition, and

Fig. 3 shows a modified form of one part of a socket member.

1 is a tubular member which is mounted in a carrier or panel 2 ofinsulating material. The front. end of the tubular memher 1 is bent overto engage the face of the carrier 2. The opposite end is passed througha hole 3 in the base of a U-shaped member 4 and is swaged or opened outto secure the u-shaped member to the carrier. The U-shaped member is ofspringy material, such as phosphor bronze, the legs 5 have cuts ordepressions 6 near their ends and said ends preferably rounded and bentout-wards as shown at 7. A second member of U- shape with its legs 8bent together at their outer ends has a depression 9 on each side at itsbase which, when the said second member is-forced between the legs ofthe U-shaped member 4. engage the cuts or depressions 6 in the legswhereby the second member is held in position. The ends of the legs ofthe second member are cut away at the corners as shown at 10 and theirouter ends are bent slightly away from each other as shown at 11 Thus,when the second member is in positlon as shown in Fig. 2 the ends of thelegs 8 are disposed immediately over the tubular member 1 and the partsIt) bear on the legs 5 of the member 4. and the arrangement is such thatwhen the plug member 12 is inserted through the tubular member 1 itengages the legs 8 of the second member and makes contact therewith.

Both the U-shaped members are conveniently formed by stamping fromspringy material, such as phosphor bronze, and the second member has aportion 13 cut out and bent upwards from the bottom of the U to form atag or contact to which connecting wires may be soldered or otherwiseconnected. Or. the end of a connecting wire may be laid across thebottom of the memher. the tag 13 bent over and solder applied.

The invention provides a construction of plug and socket connecter inwhich the contact part of the socket member is easily renewable and inwhich there is a slight freedom so that the contact may adjust itself tothe plug member. The engagement of the parts 10 with the legs 5 preventsthe outer ends 11 of the second member from projectacross the hole 3 soas to foul the point of the plug member 12.

In Fig. 2 the plug member 12 comprises the tag of a telephone cord orflex, but it will be understood that the plug member may be of pin formto which a connecting wire may be attached as by soldering or by nutsscrewed on to the pin.

In the modification shown in Fig. 3 the means for the attachment of anelectric conductor comprises a terminal 14.

\Vhat I claim is 1. A socket member for a plug and socket connectorcomprising a tubular member, a spring member of U-shape secured therebyhaving depressions in its legs and a second member of U-shape having adepression towards its base which is engaged by a depression in a leg ofthe first mentioned U- shaped member.

2. A socket member for a plug and socket connector comprising a tubularmember, a spring member of U-shape secured thereby having depressions inits legs, a seeondmember of U-shape having a depression at its her ofU-sha-pe having adepresison at its base which is engaged by a depressionin a base which is engaged by a depression in a leg of the firstmentioned U-shaped member leg of the first mentioned U-shaped member andmeans for the attachment of an electric 5 and n'leans for the attachmentof an electric conductor to said second member eompris- 15 conductor tosaid secc rid member of U-shape. ing a tag cut and bent out from thebody A socket member for a plug and socket of said member. connectorcomprising a tubular member, a Dated thi fourth day of February 1926spring member of U-shape secured thereby having depressions in its legs,a second mem- HENRY ROTTENBURG.

